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전도자는 의인과 악인이 심판받는 때와 사람과 짐승이 모두 맞는 죽음의 때가 있음을 설명하고서, 그때를 알 수 없는 인간에게 중요한 때는 오늘이라 말합니다.

[ 전도서 3:16 - 3:22 ] (찬송552장)

인간의 불의와 하나님의 심판 

16또 내가 해 아래에서 보건대 재판하는 곳 거기에도 악이 있고 정의를 행하는 곳 거기에도 악이 있도다 17내가 내 마음속으로 이르기를 의인과 악인을 하나님이 심판하시리니 이는 모든 소망하는 일과 모든 행사에 때가 있음이라 하였으며

 죽음 앞의 사람과 짐승 

 18내가 내 마음속으로 이르기를 인생들의 일에 대하여 하나님이 그들을 시험하시리니 그들이 자기가 짐승과 다름이 없는 줄을 깨닫게 하려 하심이라 하였노라 19인생이 당하는 일을 짐승도 당하나니 그들이 당하는 일이 일반이라 다 동일한 호흡이 있어서 짐승이 죽음 같이 사람도 죽으니 사람이 짐승보다 뛰어남이 없음은 모든 것이 헛됨이로다 20다 흙으로 말미암았으므로 다 흙으로 돌아가나니 다 한 곳으로 가거니와 21인생들의 혼은 위로 올라가고 짐승의 혼은 아래 곧 땅으로 내려가는 줄을 누가 알랴

 사람에게 주어진 몫 

 22그러므로 나는 사람이 자기 일에 즐거워하는 것보다 더 나은 것이 없음을 보았나니 이는 그것이 그의 몫이기 때문이라 아, 그의 뒤에 일어날 일이 무엇인지를 보게 하려고 그를 도로 데리고 올 자가 누구이랴

[ Ecclesiastes 3:16 - 3:22 ]

16Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The preacher declared that reality was not just. However, he also realised that a time had been appointed for the ‘righteous and wicked’ to receive judgement. The problem was death. Death removed all things from their positions in life. All creation had to return to dust, where they came from. Therefore, death made everything in life vanity. The preacher ultimately advised that it was good to live rejoicing in one’s work. He said that rather than trying to attain more and coveting the things of others, the key to happiness was enjoying one’s work and the life that one had been given (vv. 16-22). 

Who is God?

Vv. 16-17 God judges the righteous and the wicked. Let’s not despair even if justice fails in this world and society. When the court of heaven opens, justice will be corrected and God will straighten out the things that have become twisted. Let’s live uprightly remembering the authority of heaven. 

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 19-22 Let’s not fear death, which cannot be avoided (Heb. 9:27), or obsess over our wealth or renown. Are you finding satisfaction in every aspect of your daily life? 

Prayer

Lord, help me to regard this life, that we live only once, as precious and live joyfully in a meaningful way.